#1 Banks of the Seine in Paris, France

Taking a stroll between Pont de Sully and Pont d’léna along the river Seine isn’t just a pleasant diversion – it’s a fairy tale trail, a cultural tour and a history lesson all in one. From the sculpted beauty of formerly royal buildings such as the Louvre to the 19^th-century marvels of the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais, to walk along the Seine is to discover the story of Paris itself. Other notable contrasts include the gothic masterpiece of Notre Dame Cathedral and the wide boulevards of Haussman’s 19^th-centrury urban redevelopment (which influenced town planning across the world well into the first half of the 20^th century).

The banks of the Seine host a confectionary of architectural delights – if you plan on going to Paris to experience the sight for yourself, save money on your trip and browse our list of cheap Paris hotels

#2 Petra, Jordan

Brought to the wider world’s attention as the setting for the final scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Petra is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites with around visitors every year. What makes it awe-inspiring is the sheer uniqueness and majesty of the place on such a grand scale. Its rock-cut Nabataean temples and tombs fuse with the Hellenic architectural style to create truly jaw-dropping vistas – made all the more exciting today by the knowledge that this was once a thriving trade city at the end of the Negev spice route.

#3 Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Built between 1631 – 1648 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memorial of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most recognised, celebrated and enduring symbols of love. A mausoleum built in dazzling white marble, the Taj Mahal glows pink and red during sunrise and silvery in moonlight, and is the central focus of a complex of adorned buildings within ornamental gardens. It’s seen as the jewel in the crown of Islamic art and attracts over two million visitors a year.

#4 Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Built to command awe as well as inspire it, The Acropolis dominates Athens’ skyline. The site’s most famous building, the Parthenon was built as a temple to ancient Greek goddess Athena and is our best-known symbol of Classical Greece. Hike up to the Acropolis’s summit to wander around it – the temple is damaged, but undergoing restoration, and still incurs a powerful sense of wonder. Other things to see include two old amphitheatres on the southern slopes, and a new museum of the Acropolis located at the foot of the hill.

#5 Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru

American explorer Henry Bingham rediscovered the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu in 1911, and caused an international sensation that hasn’t died down since. Machu Picchu is now the established ‘finish line’ for thousands of Inca Trail followers every year. Reach the city in the way it was intended with two- to four-day hike from Cusco – getting your first glimpse of the site through its original Sun Gate entrance is far better than pulling up in a coach car park! Once inside, spend the day wandering among the site’s ruined homes and re-constructed temples: it’s impossible not to feel awe-inspired staring out into a mist-laden valley from the Temple of the Sun.

Want to discover more amazing UNESCO sites? Find out how to book hotels with UNESCO views.

The Air France Holidays package includes roundtrip airfare, flights from Paris to Rome, plus 6 nights hotel with continental breakfast.  Naturally there will be various terms and conditions and additional misc. taxes and fees.  And if Rome is not your desired destination, there are also $999  packages for Paris plus London, Prague, Amsterdam or Florence.  The sale is valid for travel dates through the end of March.

Faites un bon voyage!

Images: Air France Holidays

But that’s not all… on September 23, 2011 (first day of fall) the Fete de la Gastronomie will feature imaginative celebratory events across France. A sampling of events include:

• The ultra-luxury hotel group Relais & Chateaux will open their kitchens to the public and offer a class to prepare a traditional French recipe.
• Stop by a local market for a FREE cup of fresh soup.  Participating markets all across France will be preparing a soup from their freshest ingredients and offering free samples in specially designed souvenir mugs.
• Boulangerie-Patisseries are preparing special breads for the celebration.
• In Paris there will be tasting kiosks a the the international airports featuring local cuisine.
• Rallye Cuisinez will coordinate a culinary treasure hunt where teams of 4 participants will embark on a ten-step hunt around Paris.
• The district of Burgundy will host unique picnics in vineyards, chateaus, and wine houses.

Find full details at Fete de la Gastronomie Events

ROME – Hotel Dama  This property was renovated in 2011 and is located 10 minutes from Termini station with restaurants and shops close by.  Ensuite rooms are nicely furnished with every modern comfort and are now 40% off.

LISBON – Lisbon Calling  This new hostel is located in the heart of the historic city center, close to major tourist attractions, shops and nightlife and has been fully renovated.  This is one of HostelBooker’s top selling properties at regular prices and now they are offering 40% discounts.

DUBLIN – The Jacobs Inn  A short stroll from Trinity College, Temple Bar and located in the city center, this inn features free events like dance parties, movie nights, salsas nights, and walking tours, as well as free Wi-Fi, Playstation, pool table and more.  It’s definitely a place to make friends.  Discounts for the summer sale are 20% off.

PRAGUE – Plus Prague Hotel  This is the choice when you want ALL the amenities including an indoor swimming pool, sauna, late night bar and family Italian restaurant.  There’s even a girls only area featuring oversized bathrooms with cosmetic tables, huge mirrors and ample hairdryers.  The summer sale discount is 30% off.

BARCELONA – Be Hostels Mar  Located in the heart of the trendy Raval neighborhood, this hostel is close to art galleries and an easy 10 minutes away from famous Las Ramblas.  Top attractions like the Picasso Museum, the Gaudi cathedral, beaches and the harbor are all within walking distance.  Rooms during the sale at 20% off.

Who says you can’t afford a super trip to Europe this year? We’ve found some amazing tour offers that make a trip to Europe affordable even in prime season.  Have a look at these great travel deals to Europe:

France Vacations invites you to Discover Loire Valley Cuisine with a 3 night stay in a  famed French Chateau along with three nights in Paris from $1115 ppdo.  This amazing package includes daily breakfast, a gourmet dinner at the Chateau de Rochecotte, plus a gourmet dinner in Paris, entry to Loire Valley Chateaus, wine tasting, 4 day rental car and much more.

Sceptre Tours is setting the bargain standard for traveling to Italy with your family. They’re offering an 8 night Tuscan Castle and Roman Villa Vacation with prices starting at $1,119 ppqo.   The fab Tuscan escape offers 6 nights in a two-bedroom Castle accommodation outside of Florence, 2 nights in a Roman Villa Hotel, round-trip economy airfare, and 1 week rental car.  Prices are based on quad occupancy.

Trend setter Virgin Vacations likes to lead the pack with great prices and their London 6 Night Special Package from $799 ppdo is a prime example. Tour Company, Go-Today, offers this package for fall travel starting in September.  The package with prices starting at just $799 (ppdo) includes round-trip airfare on Virgin Atlantic, 6 nights in a London hotel, daily continental breakfast, and a pub pass.  Cheers!

How about a Romantic Two Week Cruise from Athens to Rome?  Here’s one deal I may go for myself! Voyages of Antiquity a cruise line that specializes in is offering in-depth cultural information on their cruises, has a special 16 day “Sicily Is The Key To Everything” itinerary that includes free airfare and transfers from many airports in the United States, no single supplement, stateroom savings up to $3,000, 2 night Athens pre-cruise hotel, shore excursions, wine with dinner and on-board gratuities..  Fares from $3,950 per person include over 2 weeks of luxury, learning, and Latin memories.

Europe here we come!

A true pastry enthusiast, Joyce Slayton Mitchell,  recently penned a delightful book entitled Paris by Pastry.  Now I don’t know about you, but the thought of wandering through the streets of Paris nibbling on confections along the way is truly a sweet dream.  So you know I couldn’t resist picking up this Paris guide and imagining a divine stroll through pastry shops.  Ms. Mitchell also shares a number of yummy recipes for famed pastry selections.  Here’s the one for the simple and delicious Madeleine which is published in Paris by Pastry:

Madeleines

Ingredients
1 stick softened sweet butter
2/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
Rind of 1 lemon finely grated
2/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Preperation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar until creamy
3. In small bowl mix dry ingredients and then beat into butter mixture until blended.
4. Fill silicone Madeleine molds to about half full
5. Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown

Serve warm with a cuppa and feel free to dip!

If you’re not familiar with Open Skies Airlines, they are a terrific all business class airline that flies from Newark in New York or IAD in Washington DC to Orly Airport in Paris.  We flew with Open Skies last Spring and loved it – here’s our trip report: Flying With Class – Open Skies.  Not only is the flying experience a great one, their prices are only slightly more than coach seats on many other airlines. 

Let’s see… April in Paris, spring blossoms in Brussels, Royal celebrations in London, you bet – take it all in thanks to Rail Europe.

We’ve selected our favorite inexpensive accommodations in three of our favorite European destinations, London, Paris and Budapest to help you stretch your vacation budget.

When you think about the term ‘cheap accommodation’, what comes to mind? Visions of dingy shared hostel dorms with iron bunk beds and thirty people to each bathroom? Subsistence meals from all-you-can-eat buffets? Poor security and sketchy neighborhoods?

These types of lodging certainly exist, but cheap doesn’t automatically mean substandard. If you want to save stretch your budget when traveling, there are plenty of youth hostels and cheap hotels available that will give you a great stay.  Here are some of our favorite top value hotels and hostels: 

Cheap London Hotels and Hostels

Grapevine Hotel London

Grapevine Hotel
Of all the cheap London hotels I know, the family-run Grapevine Hotel in London’s Victoria area offers the best perks and value for travelers. It’s a two-minute walk from Victoria coach station and five minutes from Victoria rail and tube station, plus it offers great extras like 19” flat-screen TVs with Freeview in every room as well as free Wi-Fi and complimentary buffet breakfasts. There are also free London maps available which give you 20% off over 70 attractions, totting up to a saving of £250. Close-by attractions include Buckingham Palace, Mayfair and the West End.

Walrus Waterloo
Located above a pub just south of the Thames, the Walrus Waterloo hostel offers a ready-made social life on your doorstep. If you don’t fancy a night out, just pop downstairs for a few drinks – plus, they offer a free breakfast, self-catering facilities and free bed linen. Staying south of the river Thames means you’ll experience a different part of London from the normal tourist trail. Nearby South Bank attractions include the British Film Institute, the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward art gallery. London Bridge is a short walk away, too.

Cheap Paris hotels and hostels

Hotel Opera Vivaldi Paris

Hotel Opera Vivaldi
Some cheap Paris hotels offer a false economy because they’re located in difficult-to-reach suburbs. Not Hotel Opera Vivaldi, though – this hotel has an amazing location just off Boulevard Haussman, home to Paris’s two best department stores, Printemps and Galleries Lafayette. You’re also close to Paris’s beautiful opera house, the Palais Garnier, and Opera metro station. Hotel Opera Vivaldi offers Wi-Fi throughout, air-conditioning and comfortable, modern rooms.

Peace and Love Hostel
If you’re looking for a Paris hostel rather than Paris hotels, the Peace and Love hostel sits opposite Jaures station in the north of the city. Close-by attractions include Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, where you can see the best panoramic views of the city, and Pere Lachaise cemetery, where Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf and Oscar Wilde are buried among others. This friendly and sociable hostel has a pub where you can enjoy cheap beers and cocktails, as well as free Wi-Fi in the daytime and a fully-equipped kitchen.

Cheap Budapest hotels and hostels

11th Hour Cinema Hostel
The 11th Hour Cinema Hostel in the heart of Budapest is a fantastically fun place to stay, with an entertainment room with hundreds of free movies (hence the ‘cinema’ in the name), as well as a courtyard and free internet and free fresh coffee. The hostel’s central location means you’re a short walk from the city’s best nightclubs and restaurants (staff are happy to help with suggestions for places to go).

Unio Hotel Budapest

Unio Hotel
Unio hotel is one of the best-located cheap hotels in Budapest, sitting just a minute from central shopping street Grand Boulevard. Budapest Opera house and Heroes’ Square are a fifteen-minute walk away, and the hotel has Wi-Fi and comfortable rooms with TVs and air conditioning. Great for a budget stay in Budapest.

Guest Contributor:  AnyTrip.com, offer the best accommodation around the world, with absolutely no booking fees.

Now comes word of a new movement in cupcake devotion – Cupcake Camps, a one day social gathering to share, eat and pay homage to these delightful gems. Cupcake Camps are being held across the globe, with most raising significant funds for a charitable cause.  Participants typically enjoy waves and waves of cupcake tastings and competitions.  What a hoot it would be to participate a Cupcake Camp during your travels!

Coming up this fall are Cupcake Camps in Memphis, London, Washington DC, Tallahassee, Charleston and many more cake loving cities.  Pay a visit to CupcakeCamps.org for access the full Worldwide Cupcake Camp Directory and if there are none near you… take heart, there are step by step instructions explaining how to put on a camp of your own. In the spirit of French indulgences, I say, “Let Them Eat Cake” – mini ones!